Monday, January 31, Eyewitness News at 11

GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US... I'M FRANK MALLOY.
AND I'M LEAH JOHNSON... THIS IS EYEWITNESS NEWS AT 11.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH TEAM COVERAGE.HUNDREDS OF BIBB COUNTY COMMUNITY LEADERS... POLITICIANS... AND TEACHERS CAME TOGETHER TO WELCOME NEW SUPERINTENDENT ROMAIN DALLEMAND.HE WAS OFFICIALLY SWORN INTO THE JOB AT A CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD TONIGHT AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL.AS LAUREN DISPIRITO EXPLAINS... DALLEMAND TOLD THE CROWD HE'D FOCUS ON *TRANSFORMING THE SYSTEM* TO RAISE EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS.
IN HIS FIRST APPEARANCE AS BIBB COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT... ROMAIN DALLEMAND'S CALL FOR TRANFORMATION DREW APPLAUSE FROM A CROWD OF HUNDREDS.

"You need to know that I am here to change the system."

THE BIBB SCHOOL BOARD HOSTED MONDAY'S CEREMONY TO WELCOME HIM.

nats music

AND... THEY SAY...TO INCLUDE THE BIBB COUNTY COMMUNITY AS IT TAKES A STEP FORWARD WITH ITS NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

Nats we believe in possibilities

CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS... AND THOSE INSIDE THE SCHOOLS... OFFERED WORDS OF WELCOME... AND WISDOM.

let us not forget out roll

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT TOMMY BARNES SAID THE EVENT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Tommy Barnes: "with different perspectives and origins to embrace a new beginning to celebrate our desire to embrace a new beginning."

DALLEMAND ASKED PEOPLE TO JOIN HIM IN A CALL TO ACTION.

"We will assume responsibility for closing the achievement gap."

HE SAYS HIS FIRST PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE ALL STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THEIR FUTURE.. AND SAYS HE'LL MAKE SURE STAFF GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.

Romain Dallemand "I will do everything possible to have small meetings and even individual meetings where appropriate."

HE TOLD THE CROWD TO EXPECT AN EARLY ACTION PLAN... IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WHEN ASKED... HE GAVE FEW DETAILS ON WHAT CHANGES THAT COULD BRING.

"That will be part of a larger community conversation, stay tuned."

THE EVENING BROUGHT A MESSAGE OF HOPE... AND CHANGE... TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A COMMUNITY... LOOKING TO MOVE AHEAD.

LAUREN DISPIRITO
13 WMAZ
EYEWITNESS NEWS
AFTER THE EVENT... COMMUNITY LEADERS GATHERED IN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL'S CAFETERIA TO MEET AND GREET THE MAN THEY HOPE WILL MOVE THE DISTRICT FORWARD.
AS ELEANOR LISSITZYN EXPLAINS... MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY HIS MESSAGE AND HIS PERSONAL HISTORY.
PEOPLE FROM ALL FACETS OF THE BIBB COUNTY COMMUNITY GATHERED MONDAY NIGHT TO SHAKE THE HAND OF ROMAIN DALLEMAND...
THE MAN WHOSE VISION THEY HOPE WILL BRING CHANGE TO BIBB COUNTY SCHOOLS...

WHEN ASKED WHY DALLEMAND IS THE MAN TO DO THINGS LIKE CLOSE THE ACHEIVEMENT GAP... SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY IT'S HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH POVERTY ... THAT GIVES THEM HOPE...
"We have a lot of students living in poverty in Bibb County and he can identify with poverty."
"I think he has walked a while in those shoes so he knows what can happen and what needs to happen."
JULIE MOORE WORKS WITH EDUCATION FIRST... A NON-PROFIT PROGRAM THAT HELPS RAISE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS... SHE SAYS SHE'S GLAD TO HEAR THAT BEFORE DALLEMAND GETS TO WORK... HE PLANS TO SPEND SOME TIME GETTING TO KNOW THE DISTRICT...
"I think it will take some time to get in here and really figure out the ins and outs of what needs to happen.
WALER p JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINICPAL KEELA MALONE... SAYS SHE FEELS DALLENMAND ISSUED A CHALLANGE TO EDUCATORS... AND THE COMMUNITY...
"I feel that if we accept tha tchallange than we will move forward."
"Were all ready to do the hard work.. roll up our sleeves and move forward."

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HENRY FICKLIN ATTENDED THE WELCOME CEREMONY WHeRE DALLEMAND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A SYSTEMATIC UPHEAVEL OF THE WAY THE COUNTY EDUCATES IT'S CHILDREN... FICKLIN SAYS DALLEMAND'S MESSAGE WAS RIGHT ON POINT.
"I thought that was very positive."
AND DALLEMAND SAYS HE'LL NEED THAT KIND OF SUPPORT TO CHANGE THINGS IN BIBB COUNTY... AND MANY SAY THEIR CONFIDENT HE WON'T DISSAPOINT...
STD THE SCHOOL BOARD PICKED DALLEMAND IN NOVEMBER....AND AGREED ON A CONTRACT LAST MONTH. THEY AGREED TO PAY HIM A BASE SALARY OF 198 THOUSAND DOLLARS... PLUS BENEFITS FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM.

TODAY'S 13WMAZ DOT COM WEB POLL QUESTION ASKS... WHAT SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY FOR BIBB COUNTY'S NEW SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT?
SO FAR 32 PERCENT OF YOU SAY SCHOOL SAFETY.
32 PERCENT OF YOU SAY GRADUATION RATES.
21 PERCENT OF YOU SAY MANAGING THE BUDGET.
AND 15 PERCENT OF YOU SAY TEST SCORES.
YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO VOTE... LOOK FOR THE QUESTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR HOMEPAGE.

GRAY POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR THE MAN THEY SAY ROBBED A GAS STATION THIS AFTERNOON.
POLICE CHIEF ADAM LOWE SAYS 37-YEAR-OLD TYRONE ROSS CAME INTO THE CROSSING FOOD MART ON HIGHWAY 22 WITH A WEAPON AROUND 4 P-M.
LOWE SAYS ROSS ROBBED THE STORE... THEN LEFT ON FOOT WITH SOME MONEY.
LOWE SAYS IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION... THEY CAN CALL THE GRAY POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 478-986-3489.
THAT NUMBER AGAIN... 478-986-3489.

A GROUP OF CENTRAL GEORGIANS SAY THEY'RE RELIEVED TO FINALLY BE ON U.S. SOIL TONIGHT AFTER BEING STUCK IN EGYPT.BRENDA MASON AND 29 OTHER PEOPLE SHE TRAVELED WITH TO EGYPT ARE NOW SAFE IN MILLEDGEVILLE AFTER A CIVIL UNREST BROKE OUT DURING THEIR EGYPTIAN VACATION.FAMILY AND FRIENDS WELCOMED THEM HOME TONIGHT IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE MILLEDGEVILLE MALL.MASON SAYS SHE AND THE GROUP TRAVELED ON A 12 DAY EXCURSION TO EGYPT AND THE MIDDLE EAST.SHE SAYS THE TRIP WAS GREAT UNTIL THEY GOT TO THE AIRPORT FOLLOWING THE LAST DAY OF THEIR TOUR.We flew into Cairo to be transferred to our hotel but we got there 45 minutes too late for the curfew. They said that we could not leave the airport. They said with the curfew, anyone on the streets after 4 o'clock would be shot. So, needless to say, we didn't leave the airport.MASON SAYS THEY WERE STUCK AT THE AIRPORT FOR 24 HOURS.SHE TOURED EGYPT WITH THE NEW HORIZONS TRAVEL CLUB HOSTED BY EXCHANGE BANK IN MILLEDGEVILLE.A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE CLUB SAYS THEY TAKE CUSTOMERS ON TRIPS ALL OVER THE WORLD...

TOP GEORGIA REPUBLICANS ARE PRAISING A FEDERAL JUDGE'S RULING THAT SAID PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SWEEPING HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL SAYS HE'S PLEASED WITH THE DECISION.
BUT HE SAYS THE STATE STILL HAS TO IMPLEMENT PARTS OF THE LAW... BECAUSE THE JUDGE DIDN'T DELAY ITS IMPLICATION.
GEORGIA IS ONE OF 26 STATES THAT SUED TO BLOCK THE LAW... SAYING THAT PEOPLE CAN'T BE REQUIRED TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE.

THREE EXECUTIVES OF THE AMERICAN SHINGLE COMPANY NOW FACE MORE CHARGES FROM MACON POLICE.
A POLICE NEWS RELEASE SAYS POLICE TOOK OUT WARRANTS FOR RICHARD STEFFY ....FRANK PUREBER...AND CARLTON DEWAYNE DUNKO....FOR 15 COUNTS EACH OF THEFT BY CONVERSION.
THEY'RE ACCUSED OF TAKING PAYMENTS FROM 15 PEOPLE FOR NEW ROOFS...BUT NOT DELIVERING.
LAST WEEK....THE BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF FILED CHARGES AGAINST THE THREE...ON 30 MORE CASES.
THE THREE MEN HAVE ATLANTA ADDRESSES...AND SO FAR HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
AMERICAN SHINGLE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY LAST SUMMER...AFTER HUNDREDS OF GEORGIANS AND PEOPLE IN OTHER STATE CLAIMED THEY PAID FOR WORK THAT WAS NEVER DONE.

THE NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF 38-YEAR-OLD KIMBERLY MCKENZIE... ADMITTED IN COURT TODAY TO SHOOTING AND KILLING THE VICTIM.LIEUTENANT PAUL EDWARDS WITH THE BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TOLD THE JUDGE THAT ALEXANDRIA RENEE SCOTT... TOLD OFFICERS YESTERDAY... THAT SHE PULLED THE TRIGGER.LIEUTENANT EDWARDS SAYS SCOTT LED CENTERVILLE POLICE TO MCKENZIE'S BODY IN A FIELD IN SOUTH BIBB COUNTY.TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN TERRELL GRABLE WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH MCKENZIE'S MURDER... BUT WAIVED A COMMITMENT HEARING IN COURT TODAY.LIEUTENANT EDWARDS SAYS THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON SEVERAL ASPECTS OF THE CASE... LIKE WHETHER THE SUSPECTS KNEW THE VICTIM.
Lieutenant Paul Edwards, Bibb Co. Sheriff's Office: "At this point in time we're still trying to follow up all the current leads that were called in to this department and, of course, Centerville and Warner Robins, so we're trying to track down every lead that has been called in, and we're trying to establish a current and correct timeline of the actual homicide."THE TWO SUSPECTS ARE BEING HELD IN THE BIBB COUNTY JAIL WITHOUT BOND UNTIL THEY APPEAR IN A SUPERIOR COURT.THAT COURT DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN SET.

A DUBLIN TRACTOR-PARTS ASSEMBLY PLANT WILL CLOSE IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, AND PUT ABOUT 100 PEOPLE OUT OF WORK.ITS PARENT COMPANY....C-N-H...ANNOUNCED THE CLOSING BY NEWS RELEASE MONDAY. THEY SAID THE PLANT ON FIRETOWER ROAD WOULD CLOSE SOMETIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.THE COMPANY SAID IT'S CLOSING THE PLANT TO CUT COSTS AND THAT THE CLOSING DOES NOT REFLECT ON THE PLANT'S PERFORMANCE OR ITS EMPLOYEES.COMPANY SPOKESMEN DID NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS FROM 13WMAZ.

IF YOU'RE A FACEBOOK USER... YOU MIGHT WANT TO LISTEN UP.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK HAS ADDED AN EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION TO ITS SITE.
C-NET'S NATALI MORRIS EXPLAINS IN THIS TECH MINUTE.
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FACEBOOK HAS A NEW FEATURE THAT GIVES YOU THE OPTION TO USE THE ENTIRE SITE IN A SAFER BROWSING MODE. THIS IS CALLED HTTPS. I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT DOES AND HOW TO USE IT.
WHEN YOU DO YOUR SHOPPING OR BANKING ONLINE, YOU MAY NOTICE THAT THE ADDRESS BAR IN YOUR BROWSER HAS A SMALL LOCK. THIS MEANS THAT YOU ARE IN HTTPS MODE. IT STANDS FOR HYPERTEXT TRANSFER PROTOCOL SECURE. THAT MEANS THAT THE INFORMATION YOU TYPE IN GETS SCRAMBLED WHEN YOU SEND IT AND THEN DECODED BY THE RECIPIENT. IT PREVENTS INFORMATION LIKE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS AND PASSWORDS FROM BEING STOLEN.
WHEN YOU LOG INTO FACEBOOK, THAT PAGE IS IN HTTPS MODE BUT THE REST OF THE SITE TYPICALLY IS NOT. NOW YOU CAN CHANGE THAT AND SET IT SO THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO ON FACEBOOK IS IN HTTPS MODE. HERE IS HOW.
LOG INTO FACEBOOK AND CLICK ON ACCOUNT IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER. CLICK ON ACCOUNT SETTINGS. SCROLL DOWN TO ACCOUNT SECURITY AND CLICK CHANGE. YOU WILL SEE A BOX TO ENABLE SECURE BROWSING. CLICK THAT BOX AND PUSH SAVE.
FACEBOOK IS ROLLING THESE FEATURES OUT SLOWLY SO IF YOU DON'T SEE THEM RIGHT AWAY, JUST KEEP CHECKING YOUR SETTINGS. AND KEEP IN MIND THAT HTTPS PAGES TAKE LONGER TO LOAD SO IT MAY SLOW YOU DOWN A LITTLE BUT IF YOU ARE A HEAVY FACEBOOK USER, A LITTLE EXTRA WAIT TIME IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR AN ADDED LAYER OF SECURITY.
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A FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY STAFF MEMBER SPENT TIME AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO ACCEPT A PRESTIGIOUS PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.IT'S A STORY THAT COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.ISAAC CRUMBLY..ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS AT FORT VALLEY STATE WAS AWARDED FOR HIS ROLE IN MENTORING STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING.CRUMBLY WAS HONORED MONDAY AFTERNOON WITH A SURPRISE RECEPTION ON CAMPUS. HE TALKED ABOUT HIS VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, MEETING PRESIDENT OBAMA AND RECEIVING THE AWARD. "In addition to being a great honor, it's a humbling honor. It's just so great to be able to meet the president of the United States of America."PRESIDENT OBAMA PRESENTED AWARDS TO 10 OTHER INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN MENTORING IN SCIENCE, MATH AND ENGINEERING.

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HAVE A SAFE NIGHT EVERYONE.